Method and apparatus for turbocharging an engine of a locomotive

Abstract

The method for turbocharging an engine of a locomotive in which the engine is operable at a plurality of discrete operating power levels includes controlling at least one of energy to a motor-assisted turbocharger at a plurality of discrete energy levels and air pressure from the motor-assisted turbocharger to the engine at a plurality of discrete air pressure levels above ambient air pressure based on at least some of the plurality of discrete operating power levels (e.g., low power levels) of the engine. Desirably, the method also includes controlling generation of electrical energy from the motor-assisted turbocharger at some of the plurality of discrete operating power levels (e.g., high power levels) of the engine. Apparatus for turbocharging a diesel engine of a locomotive incorporating the above methods are also disclosed.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. A method for turbocharging an engine of a locomotive, the engine operable at a plurality of discrete operating power levels, the method comprising: controlling at least one of electrical energy to a motor-assisted turbocharger at a plurality of discrete energy levels and air pressure from the motor-assisted turbocharger to the engine at a plurality of discrete air pressure levels above ambient air pressure based on at least some of the plurality of discrete operating power levels of the engine. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1  wherein the controlling comprises controlling said electrical energy to the motor-assisted turbocharger at a plurality of said discrete energy levels. 
     
     
       3. The method of  claim 2  wherein the plurality of discrete energy levels comprise a plurality of generally constant discrete energy levels. 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 1  wherein the controlling comprises controlling said air pressure from the motor-assisted turbocharger to the engine at a plurality of said discrete air pressure levels above ambient air pressure. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4  wherein the plurality of said discrete air pressure levels above said ambient air pressure comprise a plurality of said generally constant discrete air pressure levels above said ambient air pressure. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 1  wherein the controlling is based on a plurality of notch positions of a throttle operably connected to the engine. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 1  further comprising controlling generation of said electrical energy from the motor-assisted turbocharger at some of the plurality of said discrete operating power levels of the engine. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 7  further comprising using the generated electrical energy to power an auxiliary device of the locomotive. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 7  wherein the controlling energy to the motor-assisted turbocharger and said air pressure from the motor-assisted turbocharger to the engine occurs at low operating power levels of the engine and the generation of electrical energy from the motor-assisted turbocharger occurs at high operating power levels of the engine. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 1  further comprising providing a motor-assisted turbocharger. 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 10  wherein the motor-assisted turbocharger comprises a rotatable shaft, an expander connected to the shaft and connectable to an exhaust of the engine, a compressor connected to the shaft and connectable to an air intake of the engine for increasing the air pressure to the engine, and a motor/alternator attachable to the shaft. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 11  wherein the motor/alternator is attachable to the shaft adjacent to an inlet side of the compressor. 
     
     
       13. A method for operating an engine of a locomotive, the engine operable at a plurality of discrete operating power levels, the method comprising: controlling at least one of electrical energy to a motor-assisted turbocharger at a plurality of discrete energy levels and air pressure from the motor-assisted turbocharger to the engine at a plurality of discrete air pressure levels above ambient air pressure based on at least some of the plurality of discrete operating power levels of the engine; and controlling generation of electrical energy from the motor-assisted turbocharger at some of the plurality of discrete operating power levels of the engine. 
     
     
       14. The method of  claim 13  wherein the controlling comprises controlling said electrical energy to the motor-assisted turbocharger at a plurality of said discrete energy levels. 
     
     
       15. The method of  claim 14  wherein the plurality of discrete energy levels comprise a plurality of generally constant discrete energy levels. 
     
     
       16. The method of  claim 13  wherein the controlling comprises controlling said air pressure from the motor-assisted turbocharger to the engine at a plurality of said discrete air pressure levels above ambient air pressure. 
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16  wherein the plurality of said discrete air pressure levels above said ambient air pressure comprise a plurality of said generally constant discrete air pressure levels above said ambient air pressure. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 13  wherein the controlling is based on a plurality of notch positions of a throttle operably connected to the engine. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 13  further comprising using the generated electrical energy to power an auxiliary device of the locomotive. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 13  wherein the controlling energy to the motor-assisted turbocharger and said air pressure from the motor-assisted turbocharger to the engine occurs at low operating power levels of the engine and the generation of electrical energy from the motor-assisted turbocharger occurs at high operating power levels of the engine. 
     
     
       21. The method of  claim 13  further comprising providing a motor-assisted turbocharger. 
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 21  wherein the motor-assisted turbocharger comprises a rotatable shaft, an expander connected to the shaft and connectable to an exhaust of the engine, a compressor connected to the shaft and connectable to an air intake of the engine for increasing the air pressure to the engine, and a motor/alternator attachable to the shaft. 
     
     
       23. The method of  claim 22  wherein the motor/alternator is attachable to the shaft adjacent to an inlet side of the compressor. 
     
     
       24. An apparatus for turbocharging an engine of a locomotive, the engine operable at a plurality of discrete operating power levels, said apparatus comprising: 
       a motor-assisted turbocharger for increasing air pressure above ambient air pressure to the engine; and  
       a controller for controlling at least one of electrical energy to said motor-assisted turbocharger at a plurality of discrete energy levels and said air pressure from said motor-assisted turbocharger to the engine at a plurality of discrete air pressure levels above ambient air pressure based on at least some of the plurality of said discrete operating power levels of the engine.  
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein said plurality of discrete energy levels comprise a plurality of generally constant discrete energy levels and said plurality of discrete air pressure levels above said ambient air pressure comprise a plurality of generally constant discrete air pressure levels above said ambient air pressure. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein the controller for controlling said electrical energy to the motor-assisted turbocharger and said air pressure from the motor-assisted turbocharger is based on a plurality of notch positions of a throttle operably connected to the engine. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein said motor-assisted turbocharger comprises a rotatable shaft, an expander connected to said shaft and connectable to an exhaust of the engine, a compressor connected to said shaft and connectable to an air intake of the engine for increasing said air pressure to the engine, and a motor/alternator attachable to said shaft. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 27  wherein said motor/alternator is attachable to said shaft adjacent to an inlet side of said compressor. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 24  wherein said controller is operable to control generation of said electrical energy from said motor-assisted turbocharger at some of said plurality of discrete operating power levels of the engine. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of  claim 29  wherein said controller is operable to control said electrical energy to said motor-assisted turbocharger and said air pressure from said motor-assisted turbocharger at low operating power levels of the engine and generation of said electrical energy from said motor-assisted turbocharger at high operating power levels of the engine. 
     
     
       31. An apparatus for turbocharging an engine of a locomotive, the engine operable at a plurality of discrete operating power levels, said apparatus comprising: a motor-assisted turbocharger for increasing air pressure above ambient air pressure to the engine; a controller for controlling at least one of electrical energy to said motor-assisted turbocharger at a plurality of discrete energy levels and air pressure from said motor-assisted turbocharger to the engine at a plurality of discrete air pressure levels above ambient air pressure based on at least some of the plurality of discrete operating power levels of the engine; and said controller is operable to control generation of electrical energy from said motor-assisted turbocharger at some of said plurality of discrete operating power levels of the engine. 
     
     
       32. The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein said plurality of discrete energy levels comprise a plurality of generally constant discrete energy levels and said plurality of discrete air pressure levels above ambient air pressure comprise a plurality of generally constant discrete air pressure levels above said ambient air pressure. 
     
     
       33. The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein the controller for controlling said electrical energy to the motor-assisted turbocharger and said air pressure from the motor-assisted turbocharger is based on a plurality of notch positions of a throttle operably connected to the engine. 
     
     
       34. The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein said motor-assisted turbocharger comprises a rotatable shaft, an expander connected to said shaft and connectable to an exhaust of the engine, a compressor connected to said shaft and connectable to an air intake of the engine for increasing said air pressure to the engine, and a motor/alternator attachable to said shaft. 
     
     
       35. The apparatus of  claim 34  wherein said motor/alternator is attachable to said shaft adjacent to an inlet side of said compressor. 
     
     
       36. The apparatus of  claim 31  wherein said controller is operable to control said energy to said motor-assisted turbocharger and said air pressure from said motor-assisted turbocharger at low operating power levels of the engine and generation of said electrical energy from said motor-assisted turbocharger at high operating power levels of the engine. 
     
     
       37. A portion of a power plant for a locomotive comprising a diesel engine and an apparatus of  claim 24  of turbocharging the diesel engine. 
     
     
       38. A portion of a power plant for a locomotive comprising a diesel engine and an apparatus of  claim 31  of turbocharging the diesel engine.